WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today supported the Senate Agriculture Committee’s passage of legislation to prevent mandatory labeling of food produced from biotechnology seeds – commonly referred to as GMOs – at the state level by creating a national voluntary labeling system for bioengineered foods. The bill would pre-empt states mandatory labeling and create a voluntary federal standard. The bill passed out of the Senate Ag Committee by a vote of 14-6 with bipartisan support.

“While extensive testing and scientific studies have demonstrated that genetically engineered crops are just as safe as non-GMO crops, consumers should have the option to purchase products without them if they so choose. Nothing in federal law prevents companies from selling such products today. But food companies – who often sell their products across state lines to consumers in many different states – should not be unnecessarily burdened with 50 different labeling requirements. A voluntary, streamlined approach that sets a new national labeling standard will reduce compliance costs without forcing companies to include – or not include – labeling information on the bioengineered content of their products.”

This legislation is supported by South Dakota Agri-Business Association, South Dakota Farm Bureau and more than 650 agribusiness organizations.